1968 is when it all changed. On December 9 that year, Douglas Engelbart, a computer scientist at Stanford Research Center, made a 90-minute video presentation that revolutionized the world of computers. He didn't show up on stage at the Computer Conference in San Francisco, instead, he teleconferenced from his research lab 30 miles away -- an unprecedented feat at the time. Now almost half a century later, "the mother of all demos" is being resurrected as an avant garde opera called The Demo. Composers Mikel Rouse and Ben Neill re-imagine Engelbart's demo and the defining moments in his life that led up to it through a hybrid theater performance.

It's almost time for the PlayStation 4 to arrive. With just a few minutes left before consoles go on sale on the east coast, you should definitely check out our in-depth review if you haven't already. Once you're through with that, take a peek after the break for a nine minute video dive into the system's UI as Sony VP Eric Lempel shows off the system's menus, store, live game broadcasting features, social feeds and much more. Sure it's cutting the timing kind of close, but whether you're still on the fence, waiting for a delivery or sticking it out in line outside a local retailer, this will give a good idea of what the system can offer. Once you're done comparing it to Microsoft's demonstration from last week (and downloading the day one patch and apps), check out the Sony launch event -- the live stream starts at 11PM ET. The Ustream feed is embedded after the break, but you can also watch it on the PS3's Live Events app, DirecTV, or Spike TV.

If today's deluge of Xbox Onenews has you itching to try it out yourself ahead of this month's launch, Microsoft has good news for you. Redmond's retail stores will have demo kiosks of the new console set up, and you can play any game you want, as long as it's Forza Motorsport 5. Want more? If you kick the next-gen console's tires, you'll be entered to win a Forza prize pack that includes a Polk soundbar, Ferrari racing wheel and a $2,000 gift card to use toward a new TV. Sure, Microsoft stores might not be as ubiquitous as Sony's PlayStation 4 demo locations, but at least these preview spots stay in one place.

With only two weeks until the Xbox One hits the shelves, Microsoft's marketing blitz continues with a 12-minute video demonstration of its next-gen console in action. Xbox executives Yusuf Mehdi and Marc Whitten highlight some of Kinect's new features, showing how users can switch to their personalized dashboard using just their voice, or use its 1080p camera to engage in a live Skype video call. We're also treated to some real-world examples of the Xbox One's snappy multitasking features, which we first saw in the "Meet Xbox One" video late last month, reinforcing the speed at which the system can switch between the dashboard and a paused game (in this case Forza Motorsport 5). These features, of course, are just a few of the several fascinating abilities we got to witness this week -- you can digest it all right here.

The Xbox One's launch is moving ever closer, but we still have yet to see many of its vaunted software features running live in the wild. While there are a number of stories about why that is (unfinished / buggy software, licensing issues etc.), this video taken on a dev kit shows the console's "Snap" multitasking feature at work. Posted by Game On Daily, the video (embedded after the break) shows a user navigating through websites using Internet Explorer on a side window while taking a break from Killer Instinct. The description says it's from an Xbox One devkit, and it's not clear how recent the software build shown is -- according to Microsoft's Albert Penello it's an old build, games no longer get squished and current builds are "way faster." Things seem to work quickly and smoothly, flashing from the game, to the browser playing a YouTube video, to the dashboard and back again, although the game is unceremoniously squashed to the side.

For a more polished and packaged impression of what multitasking can do, there's also the demo video recently posted by Machinima (also included after the break), showing its "wingman" feature in action. A Snap feature that's apparently optimized for certain titles including Dead Rising 3, it brings relevant game tips and info to the TV screen while you play, and can be controlled by voice commands with Kinect. We'll have to get our hands on the final hardware to see what this feature brings to real life gaming experiences, so for now these videos will have to do.

If you're itching to go hands on with the PlayStation 4's super comfy DualShock 4 prior to next month's launch, Sony has you covered. Today the company announced it's rolling out PS4 demo kiosks stocked with a handful of games to select retailers, and to help you locate one, Kaz and friends setup a website to find a store near you.

It isn't working exactly as planned however, and instead of showing if your local Best Buy or GameStop has a unit on display, it's populating results with rather peculiar listings in addition to Sony stores. Numerous tweets are reporting units listed everywhere from solar panel companies to massage parlors; our only local setup is listed at a computer shop, for instance. We called a local Best Buy and were told the store had a unit set up, but a trio of GameStops said they wen't sure if or when they'd have one. Even if you have to call your favorite store and check availability before trekking out, it might be more convenient than Microsoft's major-city bus tour.

Elliptic Labs has already spruced up a number of tablets by adding the ability to gesture instead of make contact with a touchpanel, and starting this week, it'll bring a similar source of wizardry to Android. The 20-member team is demoing a prototype here at CEATEC in Japan, showcasing the benefits of its ultrasound gesturing technology over the conventional camera-based magic that already ships in smartphones far and wide. In a nutshell, you need one or two inexpensive (under $1 a pop) chips from Murata baked into the phone; from there, Elliptic Labs' software handles the rest. It allows users to gesture in various directions with multiple hands without having to keep their hands in front of the camera... or atop the phone at all, actually. (To be clear, that box around the phone is only there for the demo; consumer-friendly versions will have the hardware bolted right onto the PCB within.)

The goal here is to make it easy for consumers to flip through slideshows and craft a new high score in Fruit Ninja without having to grease up their display. Company representatives told us that existing prototypes were already operating at sub-100ms latency, and for a bit of perspective, most touchscreens can only claim ~120ms response times. It's hoping to get its tech integrated into future phones from the major Android players (you can bet that Samsung, LG, HTC and the whole lot have at least heard the pitch), and while it won't ever be added to existing phones, devs with games that could benefit from a newfangled kind of gesturing can look for an Android SDK to land in the very near future.

Just in case you missed it during Sony's Gamescom 2013 presentation (and our live coverage), the company kicked things off in a fresh way, letting the PlayStation 4 experience do all of the talking. No words were necessary as Mr. @yosp himself, SCE prez Shuhei Yoshida, casually sat in a chair flipping through the new UI and loading up a quick game of Killzone Shadow Fall. Whether you have loved or loved to hate the PS3's XMB, this nearly three minute-long demo should fill in many blanks about what life will be like if you pick up one of Sony's $399 boxes on or about November 15th. Check out the video embedded after the break plus a list of launch window games while you weigh the pros and cons of pre-ordering.

Tesla founder Elon Musk has mentioned battery swap service stations as an even faster alternative to charging for EV drivers, and tonight the company showed just how efficiently it can be done. In a demonstration at its design studio, it beat what it claims is the fastest gas pump in LA by exchanging a drained car battery pack for a fresh fully charged one in just 90 seconds. When the $500,000 stations start rolling out, owners will stay in the car the whole time then either swap the battery back for their original on a return trip, or get a bill for the difference based on how new their battery is. According to Reuters, the exchange is expected to cost owners between $60 - $80 each time or about the cost of 15 gallons of gas

Of course, failed outfit Better Place proposed a similar service before it shut down, but Tesla is betting that it can make it work this time. The first service stations are coming to busy corridors, with some planned for I5 in California. Still need more proof? Elon Musk tweeted that video of the event will be available in "about an hour," so check back then.

Update: We're still waiting on the official video, but reader Weapon sent in a link to video shot by an event attendee, which can be viewed after the break. Take a peek and see a pair of Tesla's Model S sedans get quick battery service, one after the other in less time than a fuel pump can deliver one tank of gas.

Update 2: The official event video is up, check it out embedded after the break.

Microsoft remains convinced that you'll like Windows Phone if you only give it a try. Accordingly, it just recently updated its web-based demo to reflect all the changes in Windows Phone 8. If you let the web app access Facebook, you'll get a personalized sample of the OS on your desktop or mobile browser that includes resizable home tiles, Kid's Corner and other newer additions. No, it's not a full-fledged simulator, but it does give about as good a taste as you'll get without the real hardware in your hands. We also can't say that everyone will be sold on the concept -- still, it's worth a spin for anyone keeping their smartphone options open.

Geeks who are into fast cars and stereoscopic displays must think that watching F1 races in 3D is the bees-knees. However, FIA, the sport's governing body, has often been resistant to new technology -- only adopting HD a few years ago. That's why when the FIA asked Sky to produce a test-broadcast of the practice testing laps in the run up to the Barcelona Grand Prix, the British broadcaster jumped at the chance. Naturally, BSkyB wanted to show off its technical marvel, and so invited us to come and see what it was like. Of course, like the good geeks that we are, our attention was focused on keeping Sky's chief engineer Chris Johns in a corner and needling him with questions. Curious to find out what he said (apart from "please go away," of course)? After the break is where all the cool kids are at.

As the world awaits the arrival of BlackBerry 10 hardware, the Wall Street Journal has a report from RIM CEO Thorsten Heins that the company is ready to start showing off the "nearly complete" devices to carriers next week. Separately, CrackBerry has heard the same from its sources, along with word that more internal employees are becoming a part of the beta test group (already plugging away since May on alpha dev units like the one shown above) as well. As RIM is preparing to ramp up production of test devices, the CEO was also ready to confirm more details about the hardware, including that two devices are due at launch -- one all-touchscreen and one QWERTY / touchscreen combo -- with plans to expand to six models evenly split between the two options, and that it will stick with removable batteries.

Before RIM tries to convince end users early next year that its new OS was worth the wait, it will have to persuade potential carrier partners. Fortunately, if you believe one unnamed WSJ source, it's already showing a "marked improvement" over existing phones that makes BlackBerry more competitive with Android. We're not sure if that will keep BBM addicts on the hook until new hardware launches, but with the roadshow about to commence we should hear more concrete details soon.

To do that, Sergey Brin rushed onstage at Google I/O wearing the glass units to give us a brief live action demo courtesy of a skydive over San Francisco. Video of the jump, performed by four divers in a blimp, was streamed live through Google Hangouts to attendees at the Moscone Center. In keeping with the extreme vibe of this demonstration, the showcase was handed off to bikers on the rooftop, also outfitted with the lenses, who jumped from building to building via ramp and then eventually cycled into the arena and right up to Sergey, himself. As a finishing touch, Brin also snapped a shot of the team using his own headset. All told, it's a pretty incredible way to once again officially tease this forward-looking tech.

Futuremark, one of the preeminent benchmark companies out there, is gearing up to let loose a new version of its 3DMark gaming test. The new suite will hammer GPUs with a DirectX 11-based scene designed to push a system to its limits. Now, benchmarks are hardly the sort of thing that people get excited for... usually. But Futuremark still sees a need to drum up interest for its Windows-only program in a landscape increasingly focused on mobile gaming and power-sipping GPUs. Hence the trailer (which you'll find after the break) that shows off just what 3DMark will demand of your next gaming rig. Its visuals aren't quite as jaw-dropping as Epic's Unreal Engine 4 demo, or as over-dramatic as the Samaritan demo NVIDIA has been running for the last few years. But, it's still an impressive showcase of dynamic lighting techniques, particle effects and fluid dynamic simulation. In particular the subtlety of the smoke is eye catching. For more info hit up the PR after the break.

When Amazon's Appstore initially appeared on the Android scene last year, one of its most innovative features was a Test Drive virtual machine that let users try out apps for free from their desktop, and now that technology has come back to the handset. In the newest update pushed today and pictured above, release-2.6.53 adds beta support for the cloud-based Test Drive feature to let users try out new software within the Appstore app itself. According to the description the feature is enabled on "select" Android phones and apps, although we didn't find any to try it out with on our Galaxy S II. Check for an update within the app to try it out for yourself or click the Appstore link below from your phone to snag the latest version.

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Mon, 21 May 2012 22:43:00 -040021|20242277http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/google-demos-coreboot-on-chromebook-prototype-hints-at-ivy-brid/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/google-demos-coreboot-on-chromebook-prototype-hints-at-ivy-brid/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/google-demos-coreboot-on-chromebook-prototype-hints-at-ivy-brid/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsWell what do we have here? Our friends over at Netbooknews spotted this Samsung Chromebook prototype at IDF Beijing 2012. Better yet, Google was using the machine to demo Coreboot -- a fast boot open source BIOS replacement for Linux systems -- after recently adding support for Intel's Ivy Bridge platform to the project. Are Coreboot-enabled Ivy Bridge-based Chromebooks on the way? We'll have to wait until Google I/O to find out. In the meantime, there's a video waiting for you after the break -- come on, we know you're secretly big Chromebook fans just like us!

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Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:02:00 -040021|20214893http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/intuit-micromint-wimm-one-concept-app-hands-on/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/intuit-micromint-wimm-one-concept-app-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/intuit-micromint-wimm-one-concept-app-hands-on/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsGiven the amount of time we spent with the WIMM One smartwatch, you'd think we would have had enough fodder for a full-blown review. Alas, though, one critical piece was missing: apps. Not test apps, like a balance ball game, but honest to goodness apps from major third-party developers. Well, we got a chance to check out a concept app from Intuit, the company behind Mint.com (no TurboTax for this 1.41-inch display, sorry).

What can we say? When a device has a screen this tiny, the elevator pitch is going to be mighty brief. Here's how MicroMint works: just swipe left to right to see your balances for different accounts. There's no limit to how many it can display, and when you reach the end of the list, the app will just start cycling through again. As you can see in the video demo below, the app's performance is limited by the watch's 667MHz ARM11 CPU and 256MB RAM, which is to say you'll notice some lag as you swipe from one bank balance to another. And that's it. This is all the app does; don't expect to take advantage of Mint's other features, like budget-planning and mapping out savings goals (not that you'd want any graphs or itemized lists crammed onto that 160x160 screen).

For now, of course, this concept app is just that, a prototype. Intuit won't commit to releasing it, much less share any sort of timeline. Interestingly, though, David Siegel on Intuit's development team suggested to us that the app might be of more use when WIMM releases its next-gen watch with NFC. With that radio on board, he says, the app could potentially allow not just for balance-checking, but credit card payments as well. Additionally, the outfit is mulling a similar app for the Sony SmartWatch, which also runs Android and supports Java-based apps. The only development hiccup, he says, would be adapting the app for Sony-specific APIs. That's a whole lot of ifs for one paragraph, though, so for now we'll leave you with a super quick hands-on video, just past the break.

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Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:01:00 -040021|20204394http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/raspberry-pi-demos-model-b-computers-airplay-capabilities-vide/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/raspberry-pi-demos-model-b-computers-airplay-capabilities-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/raspberry-pi-demos-model-b-computers-airplay-capabilities-vide/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsJust a few days after announcing that production of its Model B Linux computer is underway, Raspberry Pi has now unveiled a preview of what its single board device can do when combined with AirPlay. In a video published this week, a Raspberry Pi developer demonstrated how to stream content from an iPad to the ARM-based Model B, using only an HDMI-equipped TV and an AirPlay app. It's as seamless as dancing cows are beautiful. Still no word yet on when this $35 will begin shipping, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the demo video, after the break.

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Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:40:00 -050021|20152830http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-2-textbooks-video-walkthrough-and-screenshots-hand/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-2-textbooks-video-walkthrough-and-screenshots-hand/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-2-textbooks-video-walkthrough-and-screenshots-hand/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsWe had a few minutes to browse through iBooks 2 textbooks following Apple's press conference this morning, but now we have a fully-loaded iPad 2 to play with, so we decided to spend some more time getting educated in the comfort of our in-house studio. You already had a chance to get familiar with the new app and associated media earlier today, so this time it's all about the visuals. Browse through the galley below as we explore Life on Earth before taking a front seat in Biology and getting our hands dirty with Frog Dissection. And if you're feeling brave, there's a juicy video walkthrough just past the break.Gallery-145136

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Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:29:00 -050021|20152587http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-textbook-hands-on-video/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-textbook-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/19/apple-ibooks-textbook-hands-on-video/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsWe just got our first opportunity to get our hands on one of Apple's new interactive textbooks and we have to say, they're as good as they looked during the live event. We tried a few titles, ranging from steady textbooks to more exotic stuffs, but by far the best is the selection from E.O. Wilson called Life on Earth. Join us for full details and video demonstration of the future of learning after the break.Gallery-145121

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Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:51:00 -050021|20152184http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-demos-24-and-46-inch-glasses-free-3dtvs-we-go-eyes-on-vi/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-demos-24-and-46-inch-glasses-free-3dtvs-we-go-eyes-on-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/sony-demos-24-and-46-inch-glasses-free-3dtvs-we-go-eyes-on-vi/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Take a quick tour of the showroom floor here at CES and you'll certainly see, 3D days are here again -- at least, where flat panel manufacturers are concerned. And while the industry continues to pump out mass market iterations of the living room tech that hinge upon hideous eyewear, companies like Sony are hard at work behind-the-scenes refining displays that won't make you look a fool. The autostereoscopic panels, shown off at the company's booth in 24- and 46-inch models, employ a subtle 3D effect that isn't immediately noticeable. In fact, we found the visual pizzazz was best enjoyed when experienced from the side -- a feat possible due to the incorporation of multi-point viewing angles -- lending much needed depth to the onscreen image. Of the two, only the larger set can deliver full HD, owing to its beastly 4K resolution, whereas the 1080p panel on its lil' bro suffers when halved. Distance also plays a major role in the intensity of the 3D visuals, with effects holding up at a range of up to 2ft for the smaller screen and 10ft for the 46-incher. Normally, we'd recommend you skip on past the break to sample the in-development eye candy, but be warned -- you won't see much. These are truly TVs that need to be seen to be believed.
Gallery-144284

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Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:04:00 -050021|20146867http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/tosy-justin-bieber-announce-mrobo-we-go-hands-on-dance-off-v/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/tosy-justin-bieber-announce-mrobo-we-go-hands-on-dance-off-v/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/tosy-justin-bieber-announce-mrobo-we-go-hands-on-dance-off-v/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsBeethoven's Fifth. Michelangelo's Pietà. Plato's Republic. Cornerstones of human civilization, to be sure, but they all pale in comparison to what we saw today at CES: TOSY's new mRobo robot, inspired by none other than the Cultural Colossus of our time, Justin Bieber. The Vietnamese manufacturer and pubescent Prince have just taken the wraps off their latest collaboration: a petite, portable speaker-robot that dances -- nay, transcends -- just like his only slightly larger progenitor counterpart. When in speaker mode, the mRobo weighs in at just 3.3 pounds, stands a little under eight inches tall, and boasts 2GB of internal memory. Its integrated speaker pumps out the jams at bass levels of 40Hz, but the real magic happens once the music starts playing, automatically prompting the system to transform into an 18-inch tall robot and start dancing. Unfortunately, the bot is still in prototype mode, but it's expected to retail for about $200 when it launches during the fall of 2012.

Today, though, we were lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the mRobo, courtesy of a mic'd-up Messiah with sweepy bangs and a leather jacket. Upon taking the stage to roars of applause and Jelly Bean sunshowers, Bieber went on to do a brief demo of the bot, displaying its ability to sync its dance moves to whatever tunes blare out of its abdomen speaker -- in this case, Billie Jean. The mRobo looked admittedly clumsy at times, and was especially awkward when onstage with the teen phenom, but, as TOSY repeatedly reminded us, it's still in prototype phase. (Bieber, for his part, did a good job of looking completely awestruck throughout much of the experience.) Before descending from his bubblegum pulpit, Bieber reminded his acolytes to "follow your dreams." Ours, at least, have just been realized. Follow yours past the break, straight to our hands-on video.

The slogan pretty much says it all: Flex Lighting has developed a new front light LED film that could drastically change the way you interact with your e-reader. According to the Chicago-based company, this film is part of a new lighting system that promises to bring smooth, nighttime reading to E Ink displays everywhere. Flex Lighting's setup is rather simple, consisting of nothing more than a single LED and a thin layer of film, laminated onto a device's reflective screen. At a thickness of just 50 micron, the film essentially acts as a light guide, spreading the LED's beams across a reader's display and creating a "soft glow" that many predecessors have thus far failed to replicate. The folks over at the eBook Reader managed to get their hands on a brief demo video, in which the system performs rather impressively. See it in action for yourself, after the break.

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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:21:00 -050021|20127623http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/siriproxy-enables-voice-control-of-third-party-apps-video/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/siriproxy-enables-voice-control-of-third-party-apps-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/24/siriproxy-enables-voice-control-of-third-party-apps-video/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
If you'll rewind your mind in time to earlier this week, you might remember a clever proxy server from @plamoni that enabled Siri's control of a thermostat through spoken commands. Now, the same bit of engineering has been exploited to enable voice control of third-party applications. In this example, FastPdfKit Reader is manipulated by various commands with SiriProxy acting in the middle. A plugin is used to add new commands to the ones recognized by Siri, and finally, the proxy then sends the final commands to the app. Those hoping to get hacking will find a complete list of instructions from the source link below. For everyone else, you'll find the true magic after the break.